Friday, 24 May 2013

Album Playback: Beady Eye – BE



TT was at the Soho Hotel last night for the Beady Eye album playback. The lavish setting is one you would expect new bands to be throwing money at to impress the music industry, not a group of legends who have nothing left to prove. Or so you would think, Liam is bouncing around the room, from group to group, before and after the playback. The enthusiasm on display seems hell bent banishing the critics of ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’.

Here is our track by track review. We must point out all reviews are based on hearing each track only once so the ability to allow a song to grow on you has not yet been had:

1. Flick Of The Finger – The album opener appeared online recently and certainly made fans sit up and listen. The band along with TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek producing have broadened their sound. There is still the same trippy ‘Revolver’ sonic to the tune which has been around forever it seems but the use of a brass band gives this a sense of enormity that Liam’s bravado deserves.


2. Soul Love – Sitek again works his magic here, applying a Kevin Shields-esque production to create a more introspective and eerie number.

3. Face The Crowd - A real corker. Anyone who loves the early Who records will dig this. Just when you thought Miles Kane was about to steal the crown of King Mod, Liam comes storming back. The psychedelic guitar breakdown is massive as well. From the back of the plush cinema we are in Liam reiterates TT’s positivity bellowing “Fucking tune, have that”.

4. Second Bite Of The Apple – Another Beatles circa ‘Revolver’ number which is not particularly inspiring as a debut single, especially after the cascading ‘Face In The Crowd’.

5. Soon Come Tomorrow – Although it lacks the brilliance of the Verve, the slow building guitars create a sound which Nick McCabe would be proud of. It’s a more intelligent ‘Stand By Me’ and a gutsier ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’.

6. Iz Rite – Felt like the weakest track of the night, almost as though they are trying to grasp their former inhibited magic. By no means a bad song but it’s not as free and easy as ‘Some Might Say’, it’s not even as free and easy as ‘Four Letter Word’. Having heard the trippy b-side ‘Dreaming Of Some Space’ TT wonders why it is not on here instead.

7. I’m Just Saying – More spell binding MBV hissing guitars here. Combined with their quintessential glam stomp and some big choppy riffs which bring the mood of the album up again. The aggressive Byrds-esque guitar is joyous, as are, Liam’s vocals which are reminiscent of Pete Shelly in his pomp.

8. Don’t Brother Me – The song is unequivocally about Noel and is by far the most interesting song on the album. The opening is full of accusations and is brilliantly sarcastic when Liam sings ‘Did you have your fun?/ Did you shoot your gun?’. Undoubtedly the music press will latch onto this and barrage Liam and co with relentlessly boring questions. However, the noteworthy aspect for us, comes, in the honesty and reflection of the latter verses. They might not be the greatest lyrics written about redemption but he alludes to wanting to make peace by saying ‘C’mon be a man / Give peace a chance’. The reunion is still on surely?

9. Shine A Light – After all the drama of the previous track this feels like a bit of a filler track. There’s a nod towards Lyla it seems but nothing standing out much here.

10. Ballroom Figured – Another stripped back number. For TT, we wish they plugged in for 100% of the time as their melodies are not strong enough on tracks like this sadly.

11. Star Anew - a classic album closer. Big, grandiose and rock n roll. Oasis fans will be clambering after this track more than any other. It has a fantastic drunken sway to it and the guitar solo is fantastic. So much so, Liam at the back of the cinema decides to play air guitar.

Monday, 13 May 2013

Billy Bragg - Tooth and Nail



Barking’s finest export returned earlier this year to deliver ‘Tooth and Nail’, his first studio album since 2008’s critically acclaimed ‘Mr Love and Justice’. Not that the old mongrel is slowing down, in 2011 he released and toured his compilation ‘Fight Songs’ and then in 2012 he celebrated Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday by releasing the brilliant 3disc boxset ‘Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions’.

‘Tooth and Nail’ doesn’t boast the smut and wit of Woody Guthrie, however. In 2012, Bragg’s mother passed away and the tone here is one of grief, reflection and anger.

Opening the album and setting the tone perfectly is ‘January Song’. Lyrically, it’s business as usual for Bragg as he attacks the coalition for selling peoples freedom down the river. Musically though, you have never heard Bragg like this before. His instincts tell him to stand up and fight the wrongs he sees in society but the grief that consumes him is really weighing him down:

 “My journey has been so hard lately / Been having to get out and push / Left me standing on the sidewalk / Talking to a burning bush.”




‘I Ain’t Got No Home’ is a Guthrie cover which tells the tale of a farmer who’s heritage is crumbling as governments are leant on by the money men to ensure their projects are pushed through the red tape unscathed. The sullenness of this tune is genius. Whilst Bobby Gillespie is leading the fight against the political classes, Bragg offers up a downbeat affair for anyone who needs comforting. For those who have had their lives uprooted by the scandalous bedroom tax, we suggest you stick to Primal Scream and get angry because as Bragg will only break your heart with this stunning tune.

The writers of TT were deeply affected by ‘I Aint Got No Home’. We were left questioning if there was any point to what we’re doing? Surely the greedy will come along and prevent us doing what we love eventually anyway? Well, after the success of Record Store Day this year (and the previous 6years) we are not giving up on the independent music community just yet and nor should you. Berwick Street was awash with people and having a good time and investing money in shops that are run by people who care about their customers. Not supermarkets who undercut specialists so they can ramp the prices of bleach and toilet roll to make a profit.

The notion of living another way shines through in the former single ‘No One Knows Nothing’ Anymore’ when Bragg sings “break it down and start again” and to “stop pretending / We Can Manage our way out of here.”

Musically, it is a remarkable effort. As he enters his 56th year, Bragg could be forgiven for not broadening his musical horizons anymore. Not a bit of it. This is a sumptuous ode to Emmylou Harris in her pomp with slide guitar parts sent from West Coast gods. ‘Do Unto Others’ also beholds spreading his wings further as well as he conjures a blues number reminiscent of Eric Clapton’s unplugged version of ‘Alberta’.

The reviews from the press have been mixed for ‘Tooth & Nail’ which we feel is unfair. There are a couple of filler tracks on this helping but, on the whole, this is as passionate and evocative as Bragg has ever been. Musically he has challenged himself once more, adopting an escapist West Coast country and Southern blues style to deal with his disaffection of the coalition and more importantly the heartbreak caused by the departure of his beloved mum. To produce such quality, in a time which must be so distressing and to maintain his dignity in the fight for a fair society, should have fans flocking to buy ‘Tooth and Nail’. Here’s to ya Bill!